New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday told the government that its demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is non-negotiable and asked for a public apology to the protesting students who were “brutally thrashed” on July 20.
In a meeting with Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, the CJP also demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of those who committed suicide after the cancellation of the NEET test on May 3, its spokesperson Saurav Das said.
The two-hour meeting held at the Vithalbhai Patel House was aimed at finding an amicable solution to protests over the NEET paper leak and other irregularities in the exam system.
Nadda said the ministers heard their demands and conveyed that they will get back to the CJP. “We will again meet on Saturday,” he said.
“We told Union ministers that our demand for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan is non-negotiable,” Das told reporters after the meeting.
The CJP, which has been spearheading the protests that started at Jantar Mantar on June 20, was also represented by its spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka.
Besides the demand for Rs 1 crore compensation for families of suicide victims, Das said the CJP is also asking that FIRs against protesters should be withdrawn. TNS
July 24, 2026 9:10 pm
New Delhi: After Delhi University colleges and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) warned students and faculty of legal consequences and asked them to stay away from the ongoing Jantar Mantar protest, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) issued an appeal urging students to refrain from activities that could jeopardise their academic future. JMI, while welcoming students to the new academic session, urged them to focus on studies, underscoring that “nothing is worth placing at risk a future nurtured through such hard work, dedication and sacrifice”. PTI
July 24, 2026 7:03 pm
New Delhi: The Centre has directed the airlifting of 10 more CRPF companies from Chhattisgarh to deploy in Delhi to bolster security measures in view of the student protest underway, officials said on Friday. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also restricted the leaves of its Delhi Metro security unit due to the protests. Officials told PTI that a security review meeting held here on Thursday required all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) units scheduled to be stationed in the national capital ahead of Independence Day to report early. They said that about 150 CAPF companies will be deployed in Delhi over the next few days. A CAPF company has about 100 personnel. About 100 such companies are already in Delhi assisting the local police with law and order duties, officials said. As part of the enhanced deployment, a total of 10 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies were airlifted from Chhattisgarh on Friday, they said. PTI
July 24, 2026 7:03 pm
Bombay HC designates two special courts in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur districts to hear cases of exam malpractices. PTI
July 24, 2026 6:22 pm
New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday announced that it would launch a dedicated website to gather photographs and videos from protesters to identify police personnel allegedly involved in the July 20 crackdown during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, saying it would seek FIRs against the officers and move court. Addressing a press conference here, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das alleged that police personnel assaulted students and molested women protesters during the police action. “As we announced earlier, every officer who attacked students, injured them and molested young girls has been warned. We will not remain quiet. We will remember everything,” Das asserted. He appealed to protesters to upload photographs and videos of police personnel allegedly involved in the crackdown. “We are launching a website and urge all protesters to upload any videos or photographs they have of the police officials who attacked them. The CJP team will scrutinise the material and identify every police officer. There should be FIRs against them,” he said. PTI
July 24, 2026 6:03 pm
New Delhi: With the Delhi University and the Jawaharlal University warning students to “stay away” from Jantar Mantar protests, the Congress on Friday slammed the Modi government and said that it is now using these much-respected universities as propaganda outlets to bully the students. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that instead of making Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign and then start a meaningful discussion on the education system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have resorted to denigrating the centres of learning. He said students are on ground zero because the Modi government is now using these much-respected universities as propaganda outlets to bully them. PTI
July 24, 2026 6:03 pm
Entry gates for Mandi House, Central Secretariat metro stations open, rest 15 remain closed. PTI
July 24, 2026 6:03 pm
New Delhi: The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has initiated an inquiry into allegations of its personnel using disproportionate force and firing pellet guns during the ongoing student protests in Delhi, officials said on Friday. The officials told PTI that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has asked the inspector general (IG) of the RAF, its special anti-riots unit, to verify the sequence of events its various teams undertook to “control” the protesters as well as incidents where they were attacked. CRPF officials said a formal Court of Inquiry (CoI) has not been initiated into these incidents yet. They said such a probe would be ordered once this verification exercise reveals the facts. PTI
July 24, 2026 4:00 pm
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a probe by the NIA or any "specialised agency" into the Cockroach Janta Party-led march to Parliament on July 20 to protest against the NEET-UG paper leak and other related issues. A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said the alleged incidents of vandalism were given the knowledge and notice of the authorities, who would take action according to the law. The bench also said it was for the Centre to refer any case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for investigation, and not for the court. In view of the court's observations, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asked the petitioner's counsel to consider withdrawing the PIL, following which the petitioner requested the bench to withdraw the same. "The PIL is dismissed as withdrawn," the court ordered. PTI
July 24, 2026 3:32 pm
New Delhi: Delhi Police on Friday dismissed a claim circulating on social media that a pregnant woman cop lost her unborn child after sustaining injuries during the Jantar Mantar protest as "completely false and misleading". The claim began circulating after photographs of an injured woman police officer were widely shared on social media, with several posts alleging that she was four months’ pregnant and suffered a miscarriage amid violence at the protest site. Issuing an official clarification, the police said the photographs were taken after the officer sustained injuries in a stampede-like situation during the protest. "The individual is neither married nor pregnant and is currently under medical supervision," the police said, rejecting the claims being circulated online. The police urged people not to share or amplify unverified information. PTI
July 24, 2026 3:29 pm
New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday termed a newspaper clipping circulating on social media, which falsely claimed the death of CJP's founder Abhijeet Dipke, as fake and warned of strict legal action against those responsible for creating and sharing misinformation. In a clarification issued through its official social media handle, police said the viral newspaper clipping was fabricated and urged people not to believe or circulate unverified information. "A fabricated newspaper clipping falsely claiming the death of Abhijeet Dipke is fake. He is fit, healthy and safe. This is malicious and strict legal action will be taken against those creating and spreading such fake content," police said. PTI
July 24, 2026 3:15 pm
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on July 27 two separate petitions alleging police excesses on students protesting against the NEET paper leak. The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. Senior advocates Shyam Divan and Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned the matter. Urging the bench to list the matter for hearing, Sankaranarayanan said both the pleas have been filed and they have been numbered by the apex court registry. PTI
July 24, 2026 2:51 pm
New Delhi: The New Delhi Metro station has been closed till further instructions. No interchange facility will be available at this station, DMRC announced. TNS
July 24, 2026 1:58 pm
New Delhi: Talks between the Cockroach Janta Party and the government were held at Vithalbhai Patel House in Delhi on Friday. While the government was represented by Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, the CJP was represented by its national spokesperson Saurav Das and another youth. PTI
July 24, 2026 12:37 pm
Congress activists raise slogans against Centre over NEET paper leak, in Dharamsala
July 24, 2026 12:35 pm
New Delhi: Farmer leader Gurnam Charuni will arrive at Jantar Mantar for the third time. He has extended support to the CJP’s cause. Deepak Baliyan, national spokesperson of the CJP, said, “Farm leaders, including Gurnam Charuni, who are protesting against the India-US trade deal, will join us.” TNS
July 24, 2026 12:31 pm
New Delhi: Delhi Police have cancelled all routine leave of its personnel with immediate effect in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the capital, police sources said on Friday. The order issued by the police headquarters on Thursday has been circulated to the DCPs of all the districts, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, the Indira Gandhi International Airport, and other senior officers, they said. According to the communication, no routine leave, including casual leave and earned leave, would be granted until further orders, and only genuine emergency leave would be considered after due verification by the competent authority. The order also imposed restrictions on police personnel attending training programmes or courses without prior approval from the commissioner of police. PTI
July 24, 2026 11:09 am
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court will on Friday hear a public interest litigation (PIL) against the internet shutdown around Jantar Mantar, where the CJP is protesting against alleged examination irregularities. The PIL was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia by the counsel for the petitioner. "This is a PIL against internet shutdown at Jantar Mantar," the lawyer said, urging the bench to take up the matter at 2.30 pm. "All right," the bench responded. PTI
July 24, 2026 10:23 am
New Delhi: Seventeen metro stations in central Delhi were closed for the third consecutive day on Friday due to security concerns, amid the ongoing CJP protest near Jantar Mantar here. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said the 17 stations -- Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium and Jhandewalan -- will remain closed from 7.30 am till further instructions due to security reasons. The interchange facility will continue to be available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat stations, it said. These 17 stations were closed on Wednesday and Thursday. PTI
July 24, 2026 9:59 am
New Delhi: Actor Nora Fatehi extended her support to the students demanding accountability over irregularities in the NEET exam and applauded the bravery and resilience of the protesters. The students, joined by other supporters, have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since June 20, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, reforms to the examination system and justice for students affected by paper leaks. Fatehi shared a note on her Instagram handle on Thursday and said she hopes the "real solution" comes out. "My heart goes out to every student, every family, and every person carrying the weight of uncertainty. Education is more than exams or marks, it is a sacrifice. Every student who studies late into the night, and every family that suffers financially to provide for their children an education, deserves fairness, dignity and trust," she wrote. The actor said no result and no system should cost a life. PTI
July 24, 2026 9:56 am
Kochi: Police on Friday said they have lodged a case of road obstruction against the organiser of an event at Panampilly Nagar here where rapper Vedan had performed songs in support of the CJP protest in Delhi. An officer of Ernakulam South police station said that the case has been lodged by the police on its own for organising the event without its permission and for obstructing the traffic on the road where the programme was held two days ago. While Vedan, also known as Hirandas Murali, has not been named in the FIR, his manager, who was also the organiser of the event, is the main accused along with around 200 other "identifiable persons" who were present when the programme was held. PTI
July 24, 2026 8:55 am
New Delhi: The Congress on Friday said the "desperate and hassled-looking" Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally broke his silence on paper leaks with a video message, and claimed that his lack of commitment to accountability is evident from his failure to even mention the student protests or the brutality unleashed on them. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said whatever eyewash the PM proposes, the first steps to any resolution are clear -- "sack Mantri Pradhan; punish those who beat them; apologise". "The desperate and hassled-looking Pradhan Mantri finally broke his two-month-long silence late last night via a video message to speak on paper leaks," Ramesh said on X. Remember that the Modi government has long denied that the NEET-UG 2026 exam was leaked, he said. PTI
July 24, 2026 8:37 am
New Delhi: In a broadside against the Modi government, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday said students have demanded accountability and educational reforms, but the Modi government has responded to their courage with "cowardice and wanton cruelty, treating them not as inheritors of the future but as enemies of the nation". She accused the government of degrading India's education landscape and asserted that the country's students have called the Modi government’s bluff. PTI